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Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Do we need snow for Christmas?

I love the sun - I really, really do because I suffer from SAD (Seasonal
Affective Disorder). Sunshine helps prevent me from becoming a
self-destructive, depressed pile of asshole every winter. If you ask my husband
he will land firmly on the Sun's side in this discussion. It's one reason, among many, why we love living in Northern California. It is December and still jeans and t-shirt weather.

It's freakin'bizarre!

We are originally
from British Columbia so we are used to suffering through month after month of
rain. Not light, 'oh the sky is still blue anyways' sort of rain that we get
here in California. Vancouver is more like Gotham City, for months on end -
wet, cold, dark and gloomy.

A few years ago in Van there
was so much rain that I actuallywore out my umbrellas and boots. It would be dark when I left for work
and dark when I walked home. That can be very depressing for a lot of people.

However, Vancouver
does have its winter perks. Like it gets snow! Yay! Oh how I miss the snow.

When growing up we would get dumps of it every winter with a good
chance that we'd have a nice white Christmas. My brother and I would get
bundled up in our outrageously ugly but warm snow suits and make snow angels,
snow forts and snowmen. We'd have snowball fights, go sledding and our dogs
would get huge icy dingleballs on their legs and britches.

One of my favorite
memories to this day is of the winter that my family, friends and neighbors
went for a hike through the back woods to a big frozen beaver pond to go
skating. My dad made a campfire to warm us up while we drank hot chocolate and ate
yummy snacks. I'm also fairly certain there was some coffee, rum and wine
flowing about for the adults.

I remember my
neighbor Shelley teaching me how to skate backwards. I remember bruising my
butt with a spectacular slip and fall and having to skate around roots breaking
through the ice in order to play some ice hockey.

Once all of us kids were worm out and seated around the fire
roasting marshmallows, my dad, having just finished splitting up some firewood,
stuck the ax into the tree that we were all sitting under. Thesnow-leaden tree.

I will never forget
the sound it made. Sounds are muffled, almost deadened in a way, out in the
middle of a snow-covered forest. There was a muted 'thunk', moments later followed by a tinkling, like a hundred
pattering frozen mice feet up in the branches of the huge fir tree. Then it got
louder...and louder... until we were pelted by millions of snow crystals that
had been knocked loose by the impact of the ax.

We were all left sitting
there like a merry band of snow people. There was a short moment of stunned
silence before hilarity ensued. Shaking ourselves off, we teased my dad
relentlessly and got back to our marshmallows. (Luckily the snowfall hadn’t put
out the fire).

It's those memories
which make me a little sad that Ender doesn't get to see snow. We could head up
to Tahoe but with Rich's schedule it's not always an option for us to get away.
I’m not complaining, we knew when he
took his job that this is what we were signing up for.

Maybe next year we will get back to BC for the holidays. Until
then we’ll just have to plan a Christmas Pool Party. Or maybe we’ll get a
little bit of rain and have an excuse to light the fireplace!

This year the holidays will be what we make them. I’m still going
to drink my Baileys and coffee on Christmas morning while all of us, surrounded
by pretty decorations and dressed in our Christmas PJ’s, unwrap a few gifts
and, as Clark Griswold famously said, “We're gonna have the hap hap happiest Christmas
since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny fucking Kaye”.

I know what you mean - I live in South Florida and it was in the 80s yesterday. Hard to get into the holiday spirit when it's that hot. We normally go to visit family in Georgia and South Carolina, so at least it feels like Christmas for a week. I normally doesn't snow there, but at least it doesn't feel like summertime, either.

As far as going to Tahoe, I'm so jealous that you are so close. I'm originally from Southern California and used to go to (South) Tahoe a bunch. It was a long drive from L.A., but worth it. Such great skiing. Definitely try to make a trip if you can - then post pictures so I can be jealous.

Just wanted to let you know how much I love your blog. Of to add you to my g+ circle and email subscribe!